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Hijabis Standing Strong Amidst Islamophobia; Symbols of Courage and Faith

In a world marked by diversity and cultural pluralism, the hijab, a symbol of modesty and devotion to faith, has become a visible representation of Muslim women's identity. 

In recent events & amid the rising tide of Islamophobia, many hijabis find themselves navigating a path filled with both strength and fear. Hijabis being afraid amidst Islamophobia is a heart-wrenching reality, but their strength and resilience are equally inspiring. They face adversity with unwavering faith and a commitment to promoting peace and understanding. These women are not just symbols of courage; they are living embodiments of the principles of their faith, which include patience, perseverance, and the unwavering belief in a better, more inclusive world.

Islamophobia manifests as fear, hatred, and prejudice against Muslims, and often, the hijab becomes the focal point of such bigotry. Hijabis, or women who choose to wear the hijab, find themselves at the forefront of this discrimination, facing not only verbal abuse but also physical attacks in extreme cases. This fear of being targeted simply for their choice of dress is a heavy burden to bear.

However, hijabis are anything but weak. They display remarkable strength and resilience in the face of adversity. The decision to wear the hijab is a deeply personal one, rooted in faith, self-expression, and a profound sense of identity. For many, the hijab is an emblem of their devotion to Allah and their commitment to living a life of modesty and piety. In a world that often pushes conformity and homogeneity, hijabis boldly defy stereotypes and assert their individuality.

Hijabis use their visibility as an opportunity to challenge the misconceptions and biases that fuel Islamophobia. They demonstrate that Islam is a religion of peace, tolerance, & compassion and that hijab-wearing women are an integral part of this peaceful message.

Stay safe, my hiijabi sister, and please share so that other people have a better understanding of our faith. 

With love &  solidarity, 
Lina

Salaam *|FNAME|*,

Alhamdulillah for giving us the opportunity to open yet a new chapter in our lives. It's also a good time for us to reflect on what we've been through so we can carry on with a clearer vision. 

Well, to say the least, I guess 2021 was a challenging year for many. Amidst our attempts to ride the roller coaster of change, we’d also be bombarded with societal messages to hustle, chase, and strive more; and we’d rarely see messages about the importance of striking a Balance!

I believe “Tawakkul” is the keystone that seamlessly connects both worlds, hard work and inner peace. Don’t you agree that without it you’d be burnt-out, drained, and consumed?

For me, 2021 was a journey through which I realized that my wellbeing should be prioritized more, and the random distractions of life should be ignored more. I noticed that I should set boundaries from within; not be dragged into anything that would cost me my inner peace. I know, easier said than done, but it’s one of my main goals!

How about you, my friend? What is something you’ve learned from 2021 and you’re planning to carry on moving forward? I would love to hear your thoughts. 

’m sharing my hijab story with you today, not because it’s special per se, but rather to shed light on some struggles some of us do face before wearing our hijabs. Maybe we can spread awareness of what non-hijabis go through, stop judging them, just embrace their fears, reassure them that they’re not alone, and show them the real beauty of hijab.

I wore my hijab 20 years ago. I’ve loved the concept of hijab ever since I was a little girl, but in all honesty, many in my inner circle and my community were not fans of the idea. You would assume that wearing hijab is easier in the Middle East, well, not necessarily so! I’ve heard it all... “You’re too young”, “you’ll look old”, “you’ll become different (negatively was the connotation, as you can imagine), “you’ll stop caring about your looks”, “it’s too hot”, “you’ll take it off later”, “who said hijab is really a must in the first place?”, “you will limit your job opportunities”, “you want to cover in front of X, Y, Z?!!!”, “hmmm, is that a way to save money on your hair and beauty?”…ugh, the list was endless, as I’m sure many of you have heard or gone through.

I had my first baby,  and we were living in Tunisia for a couple of years. Back then, Hijab was not permitted there, but I would be allowed to wear it since I was a foreigner. And here came my other challenge; I would literally “stand out” and I wasn’t sure how this would affect my daily life there.

Then one day in May, I was sitting home with my baby, contemplating hijab over and over again. I asked for Allah’s guidance and as I opened my Quran, I read this Ayah (105) from Surah Al Ma’ida:

"يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا عَلَيْكُمْ أَنْفُسَكُمْ ۖ لَا يَضُرُّكُمْ مَنْ ضَلَّ إِذَا اهْتَدَيْتُمْ ۚ إِلَى اللَّهِ مَرْجِعُكُمْ جَمِيعًا فَيُنَبِّئُكُمْ بِمَا كُنْتُمْ تَعْمَلُونَ" .

(O you who believe! You are responsible for your own selves. He who errs cannot hurt you when you are on the right path. To Allah you all are to return, when He will inform you of what you did.)

THAT was my turning point. It hit me that I should even care about people’s opinions when it comes to me following my Deen. I realized then that it is Allah’s blessing that I’m seeking, not people’s approval. I wore my hijab that day, and my love for it continues to grow Every. Single. Day, Alhamdulillah.

One of the main reasons I started this business, is that I wanted to create a kind of an oasis for us, not only for hijabis but also for those contemplating it. A place where we can feel the Joy of Hijab, a place that understands the concept behind it, what it stands for, and the many hats we wear on a daily basis.  You’re heard here, your struggles are taken seriously, and your wishes truly become mine.

Comment below about your journey, my friend. How did you wear your hijab? What was your turning point? What’s stopping you from wearing your hijab? What’s your biggest challenge? What is something you wish we could offer, change, increase, stop? Would love to hear your thoughts, and remember, someone out there might find her answer in your words.

Keep shining!

Lina

Alhamdulillah, We’re back! Hope you’re all safe and healthy! Thank you for getting in touch and for your sweet notes! As for those of you who don’t know; let me briefly share how Covid-19 affected my life & hijab business:
My sister and I regularly visit our parents in Jordan, but this time, our supposedly short visit turned into a span of five months! Borders were closed and we opted to stay with the folks until Jordan almost hit the “Green Zone”. We came back few days ago via a charter flight since commercial flights are still not operating.
I felt so blessed to spend this precious time with my parents, and now I’m also so grateful to be back with my husband and kids.

My vision for my business evolved amidst this chaotic situation. I now have bigger dreams to help those affected most by circumstances like these. Some women might not be able to afford their hijabs for themselves or their girls, some other have lost their jobs and so food on the table is now a real issue for many families. 

I'm more hopeful now than I was before, yes.. believe it or not.. that my business - INSHALLAH - will grow because my mission now is broader :) 

our patience and support are deeply appreciated 😊 I’m excited to have the opportunity to serve you all again.

Lina

So, what’s cookin’?  :D

As I prepare my new collection for the coming season, I wanted to share with you one of the heart-warming phases of listing a new product. It’s when I experiment with the hijab and see its potential on my mannequin. Is it soft? is it light? Is it opaque? Is it practical for a busy-scheduled lady out there who wants to be elegant but does not have the time for the hassle? Are the colors, fabric, or print suitable for work, for moms, or for college students. I wonder, who would enjoy this hijab the most? The list of questions goes on and on with each scarf/ hijab.

See my friend, you can’t skip letters.. you have to pass through each one of them to move forward. leaping only means jumping faster and decreasing the amount of time spent on a certain phase between two letters – you cannot skip any letter.. each letter is valuable, each letter helps you understand what the next letter is about.. each letter is a base, a foundation.. trust me, when you’re done with all letters, that ‘s when you will be able to write your words.. and then your story..

Stay tuned, as I will be posting new products soon!

The idea of starting my own business terrified me. The thought of me starting something totally new (just because I want to) was so crazy… “Who would do that? Why? At this stage of my life?  I’ve invested in my academic life for so long, and now I want to start ... business?”

But, I had -and still have - a feeling, deep down in my gut, that I do have a vision, I do see that my style and the way I put colors and clothes together is different, that some people out there might be inspired by me. See, I don’t consider hijab to be about fashion, nor is it about being trendy … it’s way deeper than this, it’s a beautiful symbol of what we chose to represent, of our strength to be part of our communities, to prosper, to shine.. hijab doesn’t stop us, it’s basically PART of us, and I want to be able to celebrate the joy of hijab by creating a boutique for the ladies out there so they can just go ahead and do their work comfortably, practically, and by simply being elegant.

I started to learn more about business, photography, fabrics, colors, retailers and wholesalers, I followed hijabi bloggers and influencers, I learned about marketing, website optimization. There were moments when I felt I’m farthest from my goal, and at other moments, I felt.. well, I’m kinda getting there.. yes, I am! Slowly but surely..

I decided to share this part of my journey with you so we can connect more and to whisper in your ears that if you have any doubts about a decision that you believe would make a difference and would make you and others happy.. Give it a shot.. because not doing so means you didn’t give YOURSELF the possibility of success.. “But, what about failure?”, you might ask.. my dear, failure to me now means failing to believe in myself, it’s not about the business or fame.. success is not measured by accomplishments for these are only embellishments that we all brag about.. to me, success is doing something you love, is giving yourself a chance to grow, is learning what the world has to offer, it’s being genuine to yourself and others.. success is so deep, it’s so human..

Would love to hear your story, your fears and successes. your turning points and dreams.. you can simply reply to this email, it’s up to you if you would like to share your comment publicly or keep it private.. just let me know 😊

My personal take on Hijab as a Fashion

Salam!

Hope you're enjoying your day so far :)

I wanted to share with you my personal take on Hijab as a Fashion so you have an idea of what to expect from my blog and store :)  

Simply put, Hijab is a joy in my life. I feel that it completes me, it reminds me of who I am, who I represent and the values I carry with it. 

A lot of my customers wonder how to put their clothes, colors and patterns together ...How to look professional without compromising modesty..How to make use of their Hijabs to mix and match their outfits.. and so many other questions that I hope I can answer here.

InshAllah, I will start a series of posts that show simple style solutions; how to handle colors, fabrics and patterns. I hope these  posts will be especially helpful to the new hijabis, and for all ladies who feel they still don’t know how to put it together . .. Stay tuned as my next few posts will be about What colors look nice together :) 

Meanwhile, let’s start with three words that represent Hijab as a Fashion to you. This will give me a better idea of your preferences and what you're looking for.  My three words are: Practical, Simple and Elegant.. what are your three words? 

I’d love to hear your feedback and your own tips & tricks! You can either write your comments under the blog post on linazibdeh.com, or feel free to email me at [email protected] and I will make sure to include your comments in the coming posts. 
Also, please share with your friends and family!

Introducing Hello Sunshine!

A beautiful combination of sun and skies! Wavy rays on a blue beach! This scarf is all about summer!

Also, please don't forget to share with your friends and family!